The recent Colorado floods have caused devastation of property, loss of life, and economic distress for thousands in Colorado. I join my fellow Coloradoans in sending best wishes and support for all who have suffered loss. I am so proud, however, of the way our community at-large has stepped up to help their neighbors. We … Read More →
It would appear, on the surface, to be an oxymoron, however it is possible to raise too much money. For the purposes of this discussion, I am defining ‘too much money’ as ‘money that you are unable to spend for the purpose that it was given.’ Let me explain. This past Friday we began to … Read More →
Last month I was watching Law and Order with my teenage son. One of the characters had committed a relatively minor infraction and was sentenced to Home Detention for 3 months, wearing an ankle monitor. We got into a discussion about ankle monitors and KJ asked me ‘if the person cut the ankle monitor off, … Read More →
This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Northern Colorado Active 20/30 annual “Suitcase Party” ( http://noco2030.org/) for the first time. This event, designed to raise money for NoCo 20/30’s philanthropy goals, was amazing. Essentially it is a silent / live auction, food and drinks, along with a concert (Blues Traveler this year!) … Read More →
How many of you have ever been the parent of a teenager? I have a teenage son who really keeps me on my toes in more ways than one. I distinctly remember a time when he was small and he wanted me to buy something for him while we were together at the mall. I … Read More →
When we talk about donor’s rights, it seems like the conversation often centers around privacy issues. Another popular right is the ability to see the organization’s financial statements. This week there was a court case that will no doubt contribute to legal precedent concerning a portion of the Donor’s Bill of Rights. Section IV of … Read More →
I don’t know about you but there are certain movies that I must watch whenever they come on television. If it is Saturday afternoon and I am flipping the channels because I have finished my chores for the day and need to relax, there are a few movies that will always command my attention. The … Read More →
I was consulting for a small organization led by a new Executive Director who had no fund raising experience. Typically I try to stay away from going on solicitations as a consultant, rather I help devise strategy and provide training to build capacity. This particular ED was deathly afraid of asking for money so I … Read More →
Back in the day I had an executive director who did not like me to publicly announce large gifts to the organization. She felt that if the community and/or donors perceived that we had too much money, it would impact our fund raising negatively and we would encounter financial distress. She believed that donors want … Read More →